Monica, the Angel of Mansfield Memorial Homes is the story of my wife, Monica, from November of 2004 to February of 2006, which is the present. She came to the nursing home because of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, which robbed her of the ability to walk. Yielding complete control of her life to God has caused her to blossom into a very caring individual, not unlike a fall blooming chrysanthemum. I have a number of illnesses that have me disabled for the last eight years and unable to care for her at home. We cope with the separation in our lives with frequent visits, a private room, nightly prayer and a lot of help from God's grace. When she was at home, leaving the house became very difficult an in effect she was cut off or isolated from the outside world. At the nursing home she was able to form new friendships and relationships. Telling people about God's love and about how Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins was a challenge that became a reality. One of the friends she made was a man named Tony. Tony could not see the need of his salvation because he was a very good person. Good by our standards, but not God's. He started having trouble keeping food down and was eventually diagnosed with cancer. About two weeks before he died he saw his need of salvation and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Monica also has the patience to communicate with many of the patients who cannot talk due to stroke, Alzheimer's, brain damage or what ever. Many of these patients cannot remember her name, but they all know she is their friend. One lady who goes around crying all the time will come to Monica just to hold her hand to find some relief from the sadness. God knows about her sadnessand so does Monica. It is a story that reveals how God cares for even those in nursing homes. After all, he cares about the sparrow, doesn't' he?

The book is about two 17 year olds doing what 17-year-olds do all over the world. They fall in love. It didn't take long for us to decide that we never wanted to part. Today we are approaching our 39th anniversary. My wife, Monica, is in a nursing home and we both know she will never leave there alive. She has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (the disease that the Jerry Lewis Telethon is all about.) About three to five days a week we enjoy a conjugal visit in her private room. I bring dinner, which I either buy or fix personally. We also share physical intimacies in celebration of our love. Philippians 4: 11 says: "For I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." I praise God for the time we do have together. Most of the book tells about the sorrow, joys, humor in raising two handicapped boys.